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- A vasectomy is a permanent birth control method for men that’s also known as sterilization. It’s 99% effective in preventing pregnancy.*
- It’s a safe procedure with a low rate of side effects.
- A vasectomy doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs/STDs), including HIV.
Vasectomy
- 99% effective
- Permanent
- Performed by a provider
- No hormones
- No STI/STD protection
- Surgical procedure
- During a vasectomy, a doctor cuts the tubes (called the vas deferens) that carry sperm out of a person’s body.
- Semen will look and feel the same. It just won’t have sperm in it anymore.
- You can get a vasectomy at your medical facility.
- Because of the Affordable Care Act, Kaiser Permanente members can get certain types of birth control methods at low or no cost. Check with Member Services or your provider for details.
- A vasectomy is a one-time procedure that only takes a few minutes. You can go home right away after it’s done.
- You may have temporary pain, bleeding, or swelling. You’ll want to rest for a couple of days and won’t be able to have sex for up to a week.
- It takes about 3 months for your semen to be free of sperm. You’ll need a follow-up visit with your doctor to make sure the surgery worked.
- You should only get a vasectomy if you’re sure you don’t ever want to get someone pregnant in the future.
- Reversal surgery is complicated and expensive, and it’s not guaranteed to work.
- A vasectomy is a permanent birth control method. It’s 99% effective.
- There’s no regular maintenance and no side effects.
- A vasectomy does not change your hormones or sex drive.
- Vasectomies are safe and complications are rare.
- You don’t have to tell anyone you got a vasectomy.
- It’s a permanent procedure, so you can’t change your mind after it’s done.
- A vasectomy doesn’t protect against STIs/STDs, including HIV. You should still use condoms to protect yourself.
- After the surgery, you could have temporary pain, bruising, or an infection that needs to be treated with an antibiotic.
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*“Vasectomy,” Planned Parenthood, PlannedParenthood.org/learn/birth-control/vasectomy/how-effective-vasectomy, accessed August 13, 2019.